Abstract :
Sustainable development in sunflower production is an issue of growing concern. In order to study the effect
of conservation tillage on fuel energy consumption and sunflower yield in Kalpoush dryland region of
Shahrood, this research was conducted. The experimental design was RCBD with 4 replications and 5
treatments. The treatments were conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT1), reduced tillage (RT2),
reduced tillage (RT3) and no-tillage (NT). Results showed that, soil inversion index difference was significant
among treatments (P < 1%). Maximum and minimum of soil inversion index was related to CT and NT,
respectively. Results showed that, Maximum and minimum of field capacity related to row planter and
moldboard plough, respectively. Maximum and minimum of total machinery energy input related to CT and
NT, respectively. Sunflower yield difference wasn’t significant (P < 5%). Maximum and minimum of crop yield
was related to CT and RT1, respectively. Deposit sunflower yield, maximum of energy productivity was
related to NT maximum and CT had minimum of energy productivity. In various crop production methods,
only regard to crop yield isn’t sufficient, but topics of energy and environment should be considered. There
are two possible ways of reaching to reduce environmental stress while maintaining adequate sunflower
production. First, for crop production, the number of required operations and field traffic must be reduced to
the lowest possible value. The other step is to reduce the fossil energy inputs specially those related to diesel
fuel. Regard to lower of energy consumption and higher energy productivity of conservation tillage methods
(especially no-tillage), it may be recommended that conventional tillage can be replaced by conservation
tillage.
